Here’s how I see the presidential election going tonight. Yes, I could be wrong.
Election Night on a newspaper’s copy desk is characterized by long waits for results from reporters and wire services, followed by a frenzy of editing and headline writing.
This year, I will spend Election Night elsewhere, getting results online and watching coverage on television. The morning after, I’ll look for my newspaper to tie it all together and tell me what it all means. It could even be a keepsake.
Free pizza for the newsroom was one of the traditions of Election Night in the newsrooms where I worked. An “election pool” was another one. Those of us who chose to participate predicted the outcome of various races. The winner claimed bragging rights of being politically astute, although luck may have been involved too.
I can’t join one of those newsroom pools tonight, but I will offer my predictions here. To be clear, this is who I think will win, not who should win. My voting preferences are between me and my ballot. And away we go:
FEDERAL RACES
President: Obama, with 303 electoral votes
Senate, Connecticut: Murphy
Senate, Florida: Nelson
Senate, Massachusetts: Warren
Senate, Missouri: McCaskill
Senate, Nebraska: Fischer
Senate, Virginia: Kaine
CONTROL OF CONGRESS
HOUSE: Republicans, 230-205
SENATE: Democrats, 53-47 (independents there usually caucus with Democrats)
N.C. RACES
Governor: McCrory
Lt. Governor: Coleman
Auditor: Wood
7th Congressional: McIntyre
8th Congressional: Hudson
13th Congressional: Holding
